(CNN) - A debate between California's gubernatorial candidates Tuesday night became heated after discussion turned to the use of the word "whore" by a staffer for the Democratic nominee.

In an inadvertently recorded conversation, a staffer for California Attorney General Jerry Brown called former eBay CEO Meg Whitman a "whore," implying that she had sold out to special interests.
Brown said Tuesday that he doesn't believe the word is as offensive as the "N-word," which drew an audible, exasperated response from Whitman.

After Brown reiterated his apology to Whitman, she echoed her previous response by saying "the people of California deserve better than slurs and personal attacks."

Brown said that he couldn't conduct an investigation into who exactly used the word, because "this is a five week old private conversation picked up on a cell phone with a garbled transmission, very hard to detect who it is."

A CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Sept. 29 indicates Brown holds a 52 to 43 point lead over Whitman among likely California voters.

soundoff(27 Responses)

Paul1st

Whitman will need a tougher hide than this if she plans on being an effective governor.

October 13, 2010 12:02 pm at 12:02 pm |

21 Days until Socialism dies in the United States

DemocRATS always get a pass on their offensive speech and actions. I guess it is because everybody already knows they have no values or ethics so they know it is par for the course. Had Whitman called Brown a pimp for the teachers union it would have been an entirely different story. I'm sure there would have calls for her head.